Unite/CPHVA lead professional officer Cheryll Adams has announced
that she will be leaving the association at the end of this month after
10 years of commitment and hard work. Her fellow lead professional
officer Obi Amadi stated: 'Cheryll will be sorely missed by the
association, and on behalf of our staff and members we would like to
thank her for her dedication.' Unite/CPHVA Health Visitor Forum
co-chair Maggie Fisher said: 'I have never known anyone as
committed as Cheryll to pushing the health visiting agenda. She has been
instrumental in influencing policy and will be irreplaceable.'

Unite/CPHVA professional officer Ros Godson added: 'Cheryll
has worked like a dynamo to persuade a reluctant Department of Health
that early intervention from health visitors is essential to improve
children's health outcomes. She has been equally passionate about
working to influence National Institute for Health and Clinical
Excellence guidance, to the extent that I have to file emails from her
separately in order to prevent my inbox from overflowing!'

In her 10 years, Cheryll has led improvements in interventions for
postnatal depression, campaigned against health visiting cuts and
initiated work leading to the launch of the Academy for Nursing,
Midwifery and Health Visiting Research.

Cheryll commented: 'I hope that I have been effective in
raising member's concerns at a national level. I will remain a
member and expect to stay closely associated with health visiting.
Members should stay true to their public health roots and use the
principles of health visiting to ensure that the inevitable service
redesigns always meet the needs of their clients. Get together and speak
up for what you believe in and you will have a proud history of making a
difference.'